How to Get Rid of Hornets
November 6th, 2008 Posted in Stinging Insects
So, you’re tired of feeling like a stranger in your own home, tiptoeing around to avoid coming in contact with its latest inhabitants: hornets?
This article will discuss ways to get rid of European hornets and Bald faced hornets by different means, including:
- Vacuum or fly swatter
- Dust or powder
- Insecticidal spray
Finally, it will explain why nest removal is important and how to do so as well as the benefits of EcoSMART products.
How to Get Rid of Hornets
European hornets are the only true hornet in North America, while Bald faced hornets are actually yellow jackets. Regardless, the following methods will work for both insects.
Vacuum or fly swatter:
If there is only one lone insect wandering around your home, sucking it up with a vacuum or squashing it with a fly swatter are effective methods of getting rid of the pest. Hornets are usually not aggressive if they are not near their nest.
Insecticide Dust or powder:
Puffing insecticide dust or powder into a wall void works well for hidden European hornet nests, since you do not need to be as on target.
Dusts work since workers carry the insecticide to the queen and other insects in the nest. This method, however, does not have immediate results as it takes time for the workers to spread dust.
Insecticidal spray:
Insecticidal sprays have immediate results. However, they may not be as effective for killing European hornets since their nest entryways may be hard to reach. If a nest is in a hard to reach area, like a wall void, you may want to consult professional help to get rid of European hornets and their nest. These insects are aggressive when it comes to protecting their nest and will sting, after all.
To use insecticidal spray:
- Have two cans of a jet aerosol insecticide specifically labeled for hornets handy in case one runs out.
- The jet aerosol spray should have a range of at least 15 feet.
- Apply jet spray directly into nest opening at dusk for at least 10 seconds….longer is ok.
- Move away from area quickly.
- Check the following evening as you may need to reapply.
Take the following precautions:
- Check with a doctor that you are not allergic to hornet venom.
- Cover entire body with long-sleeved shirt and long pants.
- Work in relative darkness (flashlight with red cellophane over lens) as they are attracted to lights, like flashlight beams.
- European hornets are unique in that they are active at night; so, finding a time to apply an insecticide spray to the nest may be difficult.
- Some chemical sprays may contain corrosives that could discolor or melt siding.
Chemical or natural insecticide products are available commercially. For those who are environmentally-conscious, EcoSMART’s Wasp and Hornet Killer is a great alternative to synthetic chemical sprays. EcoSMART Wasp and Hornet Killer is safe to use around humans (even children), pets, and the environment, because they contain a blend of natural oils that block neural pathways only found in insects. This blockage results in immediate knockdown followed by death.
How to Get Rid of Nests
After killing the European hornets or Bald faced hornets, it is essential to remove the nest once you are sure that it is no longer occupied, so that other bugs do not make the nest their home. For example, carpet beetles sometimes invade empty hornet nests in homes and then destroy fabrics made from wool, silk and fur.
European hornet nests are protected in hollows or voids, while those of Bald faced hornets are unprotected, aerial nests. Since European hornet and Bald faced hornet nests differ, the strategy of removal differs.
You may want to exercise caution and call in a professional to remove the nest for you, since they have protective gear.
European hornet nest removal:
It may be difficult to find an appropriate time to approach the nest since European hornets are active at night. So, you may want to call in a professional to remove the nest. However, if you are sure that the nest is empty, read on.
- Approach the nest at night.
- Spray insecticidal spray into entry hole to ensure that all inhabitants are dead.
- Remove nest after you are sure the nest is empty.
- Destroy nest so no other insects will invade.
Bald faced hornet nest removal:
- Approach nest at night when the insects are at rest.
- Check for “guards” at the entry hole.
- Spray insecticidal spray into entry hole to ensure that all inhabitants are dead.
- Cut down branch (if in tree) and put whole branch into garbage bag for disposal.
1 Trackback(s)
- Oct 27, 2009: Hornet Nest Sends us Buzzing
10 Comments | The First 1,000 to Comment (Starting 12/21/2009) Will Become EcoSMART Product Testers!
By Ken H. on Jan 11, 2009
We live in Fl, & would like to use environmentally safe methods of keeping wasps & hornets away from our home & shed, if possible. Mother’s advanced age & frailty is a very big reason we don’t want insects or spiders near.
By EcoSMART Kara on Jan 26, 2009
You’re right that wasps and hornets are especially dangerous to the elderly. Hopefully this article and others in our blog have been helpful so you can keep your family safe!
By James E. Smith on Jul 15, 2009
There is a football-sized bald face hornet nest attached to a step ladder that hangs horizontally on a rack behind my woodworking shop. The only victims so far have been my dogs, but it is obviously impossible to use the ladder now and I worry about hornets getting inside my shop. I’d like to use an organic spray, but ONLY if it works. Needless to say, in this case that would mean it works FAST.
By Pete Ryan on Aug 15, 2009
The article is good, and I am in the process of removing a very large paper hornet nest from a pine tree in my backyard. Ordinarily I’d say live and let live, but if we have a guest over and they are stung, or if our elderly neighbor is stung, there could be problems.
Thus far I’ve had a professional exterminator come, and he used a commercial grade powder based insecticide applied directly to the entrance hole of the nest. This seemed only to irritate the hornets, and they all swarmed out at once. This was just before dusk, so there were still many hornets returning for the night.
After a second injection he bashed the nest apart with his telescopic aerosol pole and then soaked the remaining bits in the tree with our hose for about 20 minutes.
2 days later the hornets had repaired and rebuilt the remaining nest that we could not get out of the branch. The had even built it’s size out some. So, tonight I donned my Tyvek suit and just at dark went out with a can of Ortho Max Hornet and Wasp Killer (I know it is far from organic but this is a serious problem) and did the deed. First, it is totally terrifying when they start coming out of the hole in response to the chemical. I ran around the house to the front entrance and got indoors.
About 5 minutes later I checked around outside to see if any sentinels were buzzing around, and then snuck out with my dog to walk her. We were out for about 15 minutes, and when we returned there were 4 hornets obviously impacted by the spray, twitching around the ground in front of our front door. That means they flew about 120 feet away from the nest after I had sprayed, or they followed me all the way around and I didn’t notice them on our way out the door.
Needless to say, Hornets are tough and dangerous. As much as I’d like to recommend an organic product, Hornets are extremely hardy. I would not have sprayed this nest if I didn’t have to, and I do have some serious guilt for having demolished their hive.
I will say that if you do go with a spray and attempt to spray the hive, test the spray (only aiming at an area that has no people or food or anything that an animal can ingest) so you know exactly how far it will shoot. The can I purchased stated 20 ft on the label, but in actual use it was more like 15, and I almost got into big trouble as a result. Use extreme caution when messing with Hornets or Wasps!
By jessica costley on Oct 25, 2009
Invasion of the yellow jackets this year was terrible and I just did not know what to do….. I have 6 children 2 of which are allergic…. so it made going outside to play this past summer rather difficult we were litterally prisoners in our home….. Because I do have 6 little ones it is very difficult using chemicals of any kind to get rid of these pests…
By Hanna on Sep 15, 2010
I am killing 2-3 HUGE hornets everyday inside my closed garage. I don’t know where they are coming from unless they have built a nest up in the insulation in the ceiling. My 10 year old is VERY allergic to bee stings and I have to go out & check the garage every morning before he can come out to get in the car. PLEASE HELP!
By Tammy Pace on Jun 30, 2011
I have noticed my “ISSUE” last week around the front porch of my house. I saw a couple the first night< now I have ^ plus a huge on about the size of my pinky but a solid brown color. They come out usually right after dusk and attack the windows constantly till right before dawn. They seem very aggressive and have tried to sting through the screen door when I open the front door. I am concerned because I have a child who is allergic to bees. I feel that we do have European hornets building a nest right at the front door but can not pinpoint where the are going to during the day….would like to know how to get rid of them without becoming a victim myself.
Thank you,
Tammy
By Mike Ritter on Jul 16, 2011
I am living in an old Florida apt. with only home-made loose fitting screens. Lately have been seeing hornets/wasps in apt. I generally let them out by opening a close by window but I’m afraid seeing more of them recently, they may have set up a nest in air conditioning ductwork. I can sometimes hear buzzing in there. I may want to test the advertised product if I need to spray a nest. I am not home that much. Thanks for any assistance.
By Debbie Saxon on Aug 12, 2011
I have a problem with European Hornets building in the outer walls of our house.I have sprayed and killed a few but they keep coming back.Can they get into our sons bedroom? How can I stop them?